Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Chalet, Equatorial, The Chef's Table

There's something about the Equatorial KL. It is probably the last of the golden oldies, so to speak, with perhaps the Federal being the other one, but Equatorial is the "grander" one so to speak. Say Equatorial, and Blue Moon, L'Etoile, Golden Phoenix, and of course, the Chalet spring to mind. Who doesn't remember slow dancing to the golden oldies music of Blue Moon? I am sure the youth of today, that means 99% of the food blogging community, wouldn't remember. Thamby would.

The Makan Fairy Godmother, our dear Hooi Khaw, invited me a few weekends back to dine at the Chef's Table, in the Chalet. I've always had fond memories of the Chalet, our family used to go there for special occasions, and always enjoyed the song and dance that is thrown in as part of the entertainment. But years have gone by, with the advent of all the various hotel discount cards, and the newer spankier hotels, the Chalet was shelved into the recesses of our minds. So I was delighted at the opportunity to revisit this old haunt. Rumour has it that the hotel will undergo a massive refurbishment soon, so the Chalet as we know it, may have it s days numbered. All the more reason to quickly visit.

Even the cutlery screams "CLASSIC", those heavy types that contain so much metal, if you melt one, you can make a proton.

Personalized butter with chef's table inscribed.

They also let us sample the normal herbed butter that the chalet serves. Which was yummy.

Smoked Beef With Rock Melon.... Chef Hafizzul has certainly done justice to the beef and managed to make it almost resemble Proscuitto With rock melon. Except the beef did not have the streaks of fat their pig cousins have. Oh, obviously, Chalet is pork free.

Creamy Saffron soup, Spanish Black Mussels with Chorizo, leek and potatoes, and crunchy garlic croutons…A lovely smooth soup, rich, bursting with flavour. The spanish mussels were small but juicy and sweet, not like some gigantic ones that taste like a goodyear tyre. Paired with the buns and that glorious butter, I would have actually been satisfied to end the meal here.

Slow-braised Angus Beef Cheek and Pacific Oysters cepes, herbs and Cabernet Sauvignon sauce. The plump oysters enhanced with the lovely jus from the beef cheek, a lovely marriage of surf and turf, which was the chef's objective.

A lovely passionfruit sorbet to clean the palate.

Few places still serve dinner with these silver lids, with the waiters lifting them in unison and going bon appetit.

Grilled Barramundi & Calamari with Cannellini Bean Puree, Clams & Parsley Veloute. Actually all of us guests ordered the OTHER mains, which was Pan Roasted Duck and Foie Gras, so Carol (our hostess and Director of Marketing Communications) had to order the fish for us to have a look.

The foie gras (look at the generous portion! They assured us that that IS the normal sized portion at the Chalet) is to die for. Melt in the mouth, seared to perfection, it really is the epitome of decadence. The duck was also very good, complemented by various caramelized fruit, like cherries and apple. This was not your ordinary quacking duck from the nearby Chinese roast duck farm, but flown all the way from France and is of the Muscovy family. I love the gamey but yet tender flavour of the duck. Ah, just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.

Our glamourous hostess, Carol Chin, was very hospitable, as was the handsome Chef Hafizzul Hashim.

Now one of the highlights of dining in Chalet is the making of the Sabayon for dessert. Ever since time immemorial, the waitering crew will perform a little dance, usually accompanied by the 4 piece band that serenades the diners.

That gorgeous copper bowl must have many stories to tell....after all, the place has been around for 37 years. Ooh, I must have been in standard 3.

Molten Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice cream & Strawberry Compote. To be honest, after all the previous dishes, this was rather pedestrian. It was good, but anticlimactic, if you know what I mean. Actually, the Sabayon with Ice cream and fruits which was made specially for us, was the dessert highlight.

The Chalet does serve a fine selection of beef steaks.

Gotta love the quaint receptacles in which the sabayon is served. Despite the sabayon having passed through so many hands, it was a case of too many cooks did not spoil the broth, but somehow, must have channelled at that positive energy. I loved the taste of it, though arguably, the ingredients are simple enough. Yolks, various spirits, (boozey ones).

Awww, and like establishments of yore, chivalry is not dead, and each lady diner gets a single rose. The accompanying box are not diamonds, but certainly close enough, and definitely more tasty. Chocolates.

Iced Pralines. Ah, I remember the Grill at Parkroyal used to serve this...a reminder of my courting days.

I love Chalet. Had one of my earliest romantic meals there with my boyfriend (now husband). And I think Chef Hafizzul is just amazing. Dinch know he's now there. Yay. But I think it'll be a while before I'll go there la....at least, not for the MIGF since I need to top up my fast depleting funds. Sobs.

It has been a long time since I had dinner at The Chalet because it was so disappointing the last time. After seeing all your delicious food photos, got to give it a another chance. Bluemoon was the favorite dancing joint for me and my first late husband. Lots of fond memories there. What a shame it is not there anymore.

About Me

Oft misunderstood soul. Shy, reserved, likes to stay in the background, but inevitably mistaken as not shy, extrovert etc. Originally meant to be a culinary blog, but in due course discovered man does not live on cake alone..hence the waffle.